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Small Business Insurance Pennsylvania

Small Business Insurance Pennsylvania. A small business, as defined by the Small Business Administration, is one with 500 or fewer employees. As of 2016, there are 27 million or more small businesses in operation within the U.S., ranging from sole-proprietorships owned by the self-employed to construction firms, small stores, beauty salons, and even community banks. Regardless of their volume of business, all small businesses share a common thread - the need for obtaining proper small business insurance to protect their businesses from all angles.

Small business owners in PA can work request a quote to find the right small business insurance Pennsylvania policies for their businesses. From rate and policy comparison to finding the exact coverage that meets a specific business need, we can help you find policies for the your PA business needs. Small business insurance Pennsylvania protects your investment by minimizing financial risks associated with unexpected events such as a death of a partner, an injured employee, a lawsuit, or a natural disaster.

Small business insurance Pennsylvania protects your business from lawsuits with rates as low as $27/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Statistics On Small Businesses In The United States

The U.S. is home to more than 27 million small businesses

Single proprietors own more than 70 percent of all U.S. small businesses

57 percent of the U.S. workforce, or 77 million people, work in small businesses across the country

Around 7 out of 10 small businesses are still operating two years after opening

Roughly 5 out of 10 small businesses are still operating five years after opening

Home-based small businesses account for 54 percent of all small businesses

Filling Insurance Needs For Owners Of PA Small Businesses

The smallest home businesses that have no employees are not subject to governmental requirements for purchasing insurance. Nonetheless, businesses with employees, even small businesses need certain types of insurance - some to remain compliant with government requirements and others that protect the business owner in the event of work-related accidents, illnesses, injuries, or even death. Companies with employees may need:

Worker's comp policies for PA small businesses. This type of small insurance Pennsylvania may be available through the worker's compensation insurance program in PA or through a commercial agent selling small business policies. The requirements for worker's compensation insurance are specific to Pennsylvania, making it important that small businesses consult with an insurance pro for PA requirements to ensure their compliance.

Unemployment insurance for PA small businesses. Unemployment insurance is paid for using UI taxes collected by each individual state. After a business establishes itself and registers with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, the business owner begins paying UI taxes and is covered in the event of layoffs and other related unemployment issues.

Disability insurance policies for small PA businesses. The purchase of disability insurance by small business owners can be a valuable type of insurance for small businesses looking to build up their employee benefits packages.

Group medical coverage for PA small businesses. Small businesses with more than 50 employees may be required to purchase group health insurance for their employees under the Affordable Care Act. Even if you have no employees, you should consider coverage under a small business insurance Pennsylvania policy for yourself and your family.

What Does Small Business Insurance Pennsylvania Do?

A type of optional insurance coverage, small business insurance Pennsylvania provides your business with the coverage it needs to maintain operations after a lawsuit or catastrophic event. Lawsuits can wreak devastation to your business model, as can extreme weather events, fires, and accidents.

As many as 50 percent of businesses that undergo a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, fire, or major flooding fail within a five-year period. Businesses that fail to resume operating in the aftermath of disaster within a 10-day period tend to close within a month's time in 80 percent of instances. These PA businesses usually lack a solid insurance policy that helps the business to remain profitable and resume operations as soon as possible after setbacks due to covered perils.

Property Loss and Damage and Small Business Insurance PA

Small business insurance Pennsylvania needs vary widely, due to the vast numbers and types of small businesses in operation. Some considerations for the PA small business owner when purchasing small business insurance to protect against loss and damage:

Home-based businesses with business materials and equipment worth less than $2,500 are often served best by the purchase of riders to cover such losses on their renters or homeowners policies. These riders are designed specifically for business property.

Home-based businesses with materials and equipment valued greater than $2,500 put less than $10,000 should consider home business insurance policies.

Home-based businesses with materials and equipment on the premises greater than $10,000 in value and businesses located outside the home generally require the more expansive protection afforded by small business insurance policies.

Small business owners who also own the buildings in which their businesses operate should always purchase insurance in an adequate amount to cover the actual building structure and its contents. This ensures that any damage, theft, or loss is covered in times of peril.

No matter which policy a PA business owner chooses, flood insurance is important, since most policies exclude flood damage altogether. The purchase of an individual flood insurance policy is essential for businesses of all sizes, particularly those that lie in flood-prone or flood zone areas.

Liability Protection with Small Business Insurance

An important component of any commercial business insurance policy PA is small business liability insurance. While the risk you need to protect your business from differs based on your industry, it is difficult to find a one-size-fits-all policy. Small business insurance Pennsylvania policies are customizable, so your agent can tailor the policy to fit your risk threshold and the assets you need to protect. Some PA small business liability insurance options are:

General business liability insurance. The majority of liability claims lodged against businesses are covered by general business liability insurance. This includes payments made for property damage, slander and libel, and bodily injury. It also covers any legal fees and court costs for defending your business in such actions.

Professional liability insurance. Sometimes referred to as "errors and omissions" insurance, this coverage protects your business from claims of liability that arise due to errors, negligence, and malpractice. In some locations, state law requires that businesses or even workers in certain fields carry this type of insurance. For example, people working in the medical niche must purchase professional liability insurance.

Product liability insurance for small businesses. Companies that sell, distribute, or manufacture products often rely on product liability insurance to protect them in the even that a defective product associated with the company causes them to be sued due to injury or illness.

The amount and type of coverage needed by your business determines the rates. Insurers also look at the likelihood of a business facing liability suits when determining the rates charged.

Additional Coverage Options for Small Businesses

Customized small business insurance Pennsylvania plans are designed to fit your particular business model and may include other types of coverage that is uniquely necessary for your individual business. For example, your business may need:

Insurance for loss of income. Loss-of-income insurance covers your PA business in the event that you must temporarily stop operated due to a covered peril. This type of coverage provides you with ongoing income during the work stoppage so that you can continue to cover wages to employees and other business expenditures.

Fidelity insurance for small businesses. Fidelity insurance coverage protects your business from losses that result from an employee's illegal activities that affect your business. Two such examples of potentially covered actions include embezzlement or theft.

Commercial vehicle insurance for small businesses. For Pennsylvania businesses that use vehicles for business purposes, commercial vehicle insurance is a must for protecting the business and covering risks while on the road. This is an important type of insurance for employees who drive company vehicles during the course of business.

Choosing the Best Policy for Small Business Needs

Finding the right policy for a small business is no easy task, since business vary as much as the policies available. According to the SBA, "You should discuss your specific business risks and the types of insurance available with your insurance agent or broker. Your agency can advise you on the exact types of insurance you should consider purchasing."

Request a free quote today to get help in assessing your business' risks and formulate the right policy for your specific needs and risks.

Our agents can help you get a small business insurance Pennsylvania quote online from several companies, which is instrumental in finding the right policy that meets your budget. We work with multiple companies and are not bound to sales for a particular company, making it easier to compare rates and options.

While you might have a fantastic idea for a business, if you aren't setting up shop in the right PA location, there's a good chance that you won't see the success that you hope to achieve. With that said, it's important that you have an understanding of the economic status of the state that you are thinking about doing business in. It's also important for you to know what type of rules and regulations regarding insurance are in place in that state.

If you are thinking about doing business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, keep on reading to find out some valuable information that you can use to make the best choices for your operation.

Pennsylvania's Economy Now And Into The Future

In terms of the economy, Pennsylvania's future looks pretty bright. It boasts the sixth largest economy in the United States. It is also home to some of the largest private and public organizations in the nation, as per sales.

The job market is expected to see steady growth in Pennsylvania during the 2019 calendar year. That rate is expected to be 1 percent, which is a marked increase from previous years. This is largely due to the high pool of educated laborers that reside in the state. Currently the unemployment rate is 4.9 percent, which is on-par with the rest of the nation. It is believed that the unemployment rate will continue to drop as more jobs are added.

For business owners, there are several industries that will afford success. The food products industry, particularly related to agriculture, contributes largely to the state's economy. This is expected to continue moving forward throughout the 2019 calendar year. Other industries that are forecasted to see growth include:

Education

Healthcare

Manufacturing

Mining

Printing & Publishing

If you are thinking about doing business in PA, working in one of these industries will likely afford you success.

Insurance Requirements For Businesses In Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department regulates insurance in PA. Business owners are legally required to carry workers compensation insurance. This type of coverage is a must for any business that employs any W2 part-time or full-time employees, and for employees that are either hourly or salaried. You must also carry PA commercial auto insurance if you plan on using a vehicle to conduct anything related to your business.

While commercial liability insurance is not required in Pennsylvania, it is still a wise idea to invest in. This type of coverage will protect you from the cost of any lawsuits that could potentially arise.

Additional Resources For Small Business Insurance

Protect your company and employees with the right commercial insurance policies. Read informative articles on small business insurance coverages - and how they can help shield your company from legal liabilities.

Your small business faces many potential disasters including: fire, floods, theft, equipment breakdown, lawsuits from clients or customers and current & former employees. Any many other risks you haven't even thought about.

A small business commercial insurance program should provide protection for both larger and smaller disasters. The obvious things like fire, flood and theft most business owners thnk about... but what if a hacker infects your computers with a virus - and files containing private customer information like credit card and Social Security numbers are stolen?

Who is going to pay to fix your customers credit rating etc.? Will your insurance pay for the cost? You need to know that.

Your commercial insurance program should cover events that can close down your company, or cause it to lose revenue. Anything less than that is not enough coverage. Commmercial insurance doesn't cover everything, and all policies have exclusions and limits.

You need a written plan that allows you to get your operations back up and running as quick as possible.